2013 Alaska Ride

8/25/2013
Yesterday we met up with Matt and Chris, they came in a day early and rode to Seward, nice weather and so we went for a beer downtown when they got back.
This morning Nancy from the bike place picked us up, we checked out the bikes, a bit ragged so lots of dents and scratches but we got the 3 KLRs my BMW 650
and for Matt a F800GS. The weather was super so we left and lost Radek after a mile, his tank went to reserve, he switched over and Paul went back to get him
so we could go to get gas for all of us.
 
We rode north to Wasilla then towards Denali, great views and weather. Did not stop for Mexican at Qudoba Grill then later had some 7 miles of road work so a
bit of a slow down.

We arrived at Carlo Creek Cabins north of Cantwell and had dinner at a pizza place across the road on the deck, mountains and a setting sun behind them. Some
fun stories and comments on the KLRs falling apart like Chris's turn signal lense that dropped off and almost caused direct hit on Matt!    Wake up call at 130am
to see the Northern lights.

8/27/2013
Great view looking to the south.  Left Paxson to go back to Tangle River for gas. Now on the way to Mcarthy.

8/29/2013

Denali, Paxson and Mcarthy/Kenicott

On sunday we left Carlo Creek Cabins with frost on the bikes and had breakfast across the highway at The Perch restaurant, great reindeer sausage.
We then rode up in chilly weather to Denali and the park entrance about 30 miles in total. You get above the tree line and the valley is in front of you
and the range with the white mountains in the back but stretching across the horizon. The size of the valley and depth is imposing. As we left we stopped
in the Mercantile shop and of course bumped into some Polish people this family from Toronto. Chris myself and Matt saw a lady moose on the side as we
left the park which quickly ran into the brush. A large animal for sure. The road back down was just as great and when we came back to Cantwell we started
the 110 mile road on gravel across the park. This was a challenge and the 650 BMW wasnt the best of the bunch as we later agreed. KLR is winning the test.
A full test of the bikes will be done but when we topped off the KLRs took 3 gallons , my 650 took 4 and Matts F800 took 2.6. The first few miles were
very rutted then a mixture of potholes and wash outs but we went on jarring as it was. The mountain range to our left as we rode thru with the peaks in
the background.

Again great expanses, low shrubs and the valley to our left. We got to Tangle River where we were told to get  gas, we didnt and pavement started so were
were thrilled and 20 miles on came to Paxson and our new friends Audie and Jenny who run a cabin place with some nice tents also by the river, a 6000 watt
solar panel and chickens. Cabins on the river and a 6000 watt solar system. I tried some fly fishing with a rod I brought but the water was too swift. A
funny situation with Audie a bit of a eccentric guy and we were told there is the only gas back at Tangel River so that would be the plan next day. We had
a improvised meal of burgers and canned soup and Chris got some beer from some guy in town who didint have a store but sold beer. It worked and we went
to sleep tired.

The next morning a great continental breakfast was made and we talked quite a bit about the life they have and the relatives they have in West Seattle!
After oiling the chains and getting set we rode back to Tangle River 20 miles. Lots of signs here that say gas but when you get there, no station or its
closed. In Tangle River they had one pump behind a shed, not a Chevron for sure. We rode back tp Paxson then south to a service road to a ATT tower which
also had a view of the mountains and the pipeline. Cell service there was super , 4 bars, we all checked in on our gizmos and got some radiation into our bodies.
A generator was running also full bore there! We stopped at Jennies Espresso and had a great salmon salad sandwich and she let us taste some of her
Copper river smoked salom, fantastic!. Also met a guy who explained how he does inspections of the pipeline and service life. Pumping at 1/3 capacity now
and frost heaves of the supports is checked often.

We then headed south and got some gas at The Hub and further on to Chitina. Before that was also some gas but we figured from our info Chitina would
have gas before the 60 mile gravel road to Mcarthy where there is no gas. Well no gas in Chitina also! The lady at the hotel was very nice and called Tom
who sells gas at 5 bucks a gallon from a tank in his yard. We topped off and headed towards Mccarthy on gravel to the Current Ridge cabins and Andy our
host. Its above the town and Kenicott which was a copper mine and is preserved as a old town, bikes can drive across a foot bridge so thats where we went
to the saloon for dinner. No Mexican food but Paul had great Nachos at Panaorama pizza back at Carlo Creek.

Later Andy showed up to do a trivia game but forgot his cards. He asked to borrow a bike so Paul gave him his KLR keys and he took off, now it sqweaks as
we return to the cabins to get some sleep. This morning we got up and had coffee in the cabins then head down to town about 4 miles on gravel and across
the footbridge. I made a incorrect turn to Mcarthy so we headed up to Kenicott the mining town. It was closed in 1938 but was a huge copper mine with
70% purity above the glaciers of the valley. We had a outdoor breakfast and then split up. Paul and Radek took a hike to the glacier about 30 minutes.
The rest of us decided to ride down to Mcarthy and rent a plane for a glacier tour. It was 35 minutes on Wrangell Air and Don the pilot took us for a great
ride and showed us the 3 valleys and glaciers and mountains all around. White mountain goats were dots on the cliffs but along the ridges. A great experience
and Radek and Paul also has great pics of the glacier and cracks in it.

We stopped at the local store with very few goods and Paul said we could get a salmon from our host. We decided to put together a dinner at the cabins.
Beer got sold at 5 so Radek rode back down for the beer while i made the dinner. We also got fresh veges and eggs. After grilling the salmon dinner we
told a few tall stories and went to bed.

9/1/2013

Valdez and Anchorage

In the morning our ride took us from Mcarthy but the road was wet with a morning rain so there was no dust, The ride was faster and i traded bikes with
Paul. The KLRs have a better ride on a gravel road especially with washboard and potholes, the seat is longer and the bike rode better with the thumper
engine and large front wheel. We then crossed the Copper river and later got gas near the main road. We turned south and headed for Valdez. The
Worthington Glacier and mountains on both sides were always in sight as we rode up Thompson Pass and down thru Keystone Canyon with waterfalls from
the glaciers coming down on the sides of the road. The lodge i reserved was the Robe Lake Lodge a great place above the lake with a quiet setting. We had
roomates a german tourist, a Austrian youn couple and a couple from Wisconsin. We chatted with them and especially with Jeff the guy from Wisconsin
who trades bikes in like Chris. He also had a NC700 Honda and a SV650 before that like Matt, what are the chances! We rode down to Valdez for lunch
and walked around town a bit. A older gentleman named Paul with a Finnish accent came up to us and we started talking bikes, He rode from Singapore to
Finland in the 70s on a Yamaha 650 and had transmission trouble in Beirut of all places. The city was not ruined back then and he found a mechainic to
fix it. This ride included Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. He also was a goods supplier for the US Army from 1970 to 1975 in Vietnam and had
quite the adventures to tell, He now lives in Whitehorse and is retired. After saying goodbye to him We decided to buy some pizzas and beer and take
those back to the lodge. Paul and Radek went with the german man to see bears feasting on salmon near the bay. We then had dinner and spent time with
our roomates.

In the morning we all decided to go back to the streams and saw some black bears and fish runs as the salmon are spawning. The next stop was the Bridal
Veil Falls and Worthington Glacier. After that we rode north thru Glenallyn and then west towards Anchorage. On the way a shock as i was doing 75 and
Paul told me on the radio he was being passed by a RV and soon enough he passed me at 85-90, he was yelling you are being passed by a RV .....noooooo,
go faster........ It was a first for us but then the next day Paul passed a pickup with a camper then he proceeded to haul up the pass also at 80. Crazy
campers here in Alaska!  We passed the state fair in Palmer and made it to our hotel by the evening.

The next day Chris and Matt returned thier bikes and flew home the rest of us rode down thru Girdwood and down to Seward. It rained part of the way
so we got a bit wet and same on the way back but still a nice ride of the bay then mountain passes. In Seward we had lunch at the Seward Brewing Company
pub and returned back wet and a bit cold. We met Nancy and Keith and returned our bikes at the shop. They rent 25 bikes, 4 each of KLRs, G 650s, F 650S,
R1200 GS , R1200 GS Adventures and Triumph Tiger 800's. The Triumphs he says he likes the most and riders also in general. Now we have new respect for
the KLRs but some carb and gearing modifications would make it a bit better but no issues with it at all. Matt likes the F800 a lot and was impressed. The
next morning we packed and bumped into Wojtek a hunter from Sacramento who concluded after Radek offered him some left over beers we were Polish.
Headed to the airport to fly home. The experience in Alaska was great and i suggest more riders do it on the bike of thier choosing keeping in mind the
roads and some rough conditions on the gravel ones. We rode 1450 miles, about  230 miles on dirt! I didint have time for lots of fly fishing but i was glad
to try in Paxson and enjoy the time.
 
 
Best Lodge   Robe Lake Lodge, Valdez
Best dinner  Panormama Pizza, Cantwell
Best Lunch   Jennies Espresso  15 miles south of Glenallyn
Best breakfast  The Perch, Cantwell
Best gas   Tom and Andy from thier personal home tanks in Chitina and Mcarthy, Thanks!
Worst experience   Being passed by a crazy RV driver
Best Bike  KLR

Chris' Pics

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